KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. -- Marquette University freshman Pat Sanchez closed with a 3-under-par 68 Tuesday to help the Golden Eagles men's golf team post a top-five finish at the Wendy's Kiawah Classic.

MU, which shot a team low-round 290 on the final day of the 26-team tournament, climbed six spots on the leaderboard Tuesday to place fifth overall (896) by shaving a combined total of 19 strokes off of yesterday's score. Marquette finished six strokes better than Wisconsin (7th, 902) and fellow BIG EAST schools St. John's (10th, 906)) and Connecticut (14th, 915).

Sanchez becomes the first MU golfer in five events this year to shoot in the 60s. His only blemish on the day was a bogey on the par-4 fifth hole, and he was able to finish strong by carding two of his four third-round birdies within his final four holes.

Sanchez tied for 19th place along with teammate Corey Konieczki at 9-over 222 for the tournament. Konieczki, a junior, matched his opening-round score with a third-round 72, while freshman Nick Nelson (T33rd) fired an even-par 71 to finish four strokes back at 226.

South Carolina won the team title with a 54-hole score of 859 with Winthrop finishing a distant second (879).

This was the final tournament of the fall for the Golden Eagles who now face over a three-month offseason prior to their next competitive event. MU opens its 2013 spring season Feb. 11-12 when it returns to The Match Play Championship at Reunion Resort just outside of Kissimmee, Fla.